Wild Paws Midwest Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit seeking to provide a safe habitat for displaced wildlife and educate the public about peaceful coexistence and preservation of wild animal ecosystems.

To rescue and provide a safe habitat for wild animals using sustainable resources; to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife; and to educate the public about the preservation of wild animals and their ecosystems.

What Do We Do?
Wild Paws seeks to rescue native wild animals that were kept as pets, used for entertainment or from non-reputable animal parks and attractions. We will also provide a safe haven for animals that were injured or orphaned in the wild and are unable to be rereleased after rehabilitation. Our habitats will mimic nature to allow every animal to feel free.

We educate the public about the natural history of native species with a focus on human-animal relationships and how we can coexist. Wild Paws does not breed, buy, or sell animals and believes wild animals should not be kept as pets.

Why Do We Exist?
The wild animal trade in the U.S. exceeds 15 billion dollars annually. Laws regarding selling and trading wild animals are inconsistent from state to state and are rarely enforced. More importantly, the general public has little to no knowledge about this issue and, therefore, creating a change in state and federal laws can be extremely difficult. For the unfortunate animals who are bred, bought, or captured, the wild animal trade is a vicious cycle. Some animals are bought by breeders where they are seen only as dollar signs. Others are bought for pets when they are cute babies but are soon too much to handle when they grow up and are then disposed of as the owners see fit. And still others are bred solely for their parts.

Sanctuaries across the country are overwhelmed with the volume of animals needing refuge; however, these are only the animals we know about. There are still thousands of animals hidden behind bars and concrete suffering from extreme confinement, deplorable conditions, and neglect. The cycle of animal trade needs to end, and only through knowledge and working together can real change occur.